Speculation: Opening night line-up predictions?

[Rodgerwilco]

Assuming the team will be healthy (besides Bennett who is confirmed 4-6 weeks) how do you guys see our line-up shaking out?

Dupuis - Crosby - Kunitz
??? - Malkin - Hornqvist
Downie - Sutter - Spaling
?Adams? - Goc - Comeau

Ehrhoff - Letang
Martin - Määttä
Scuderi - Despres/Bortuzzo

Fleury

With bennett out the top 6 winger spot looks open (Kapanen?)
and it's not certain yet how that bottom 6 spot will be filled.

Thoughts?

Edit: I'm not certain which forwards play which sides so they may or may not be flip flopped.

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[Ugene Magic]

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis
Spaling, Sutter, Hornqvist
Comeau/Megna, Goc, Downie
Carcillo, Sill/Adams, Comeau/Megna


Martin, Letang
Maatta, Ehrhoff
Scuderi, Despres

Fleury/Greiss

 

[Honour Over Glory]

If Malkin isn't ready to go.


Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis
Kapanen(for 9 games), Sutter, Hornqvist
Comeau, Spaling, Downie
Carcillo, Goc, Adams

Martin, Letang
Maatta, Ehrhoff
Scuderi, Despres

Fleury
Greiss


Injured: Malkin, Bortuzzo, and Bennett.

 

[PensPlz]

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis
Spaling - Sutter - Hornqvist
Comeau - Goc - Downie
Carcillo - Sundqvist - Adams

 

[Ogrezilla]

every day Malkin doesn't play should be a day Hornqvist plays with Crosby. We can spread the talent when we have a 2nd line. Without Malkin, we have a 1st line and two 3rd lines. Hornqvist isn't a 3rd liner.

Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
everyone else

 

[Tumty]

every day Malkin doesn't play should be a day Hornqvist plays with Crosby. We can spread the talent when we have a 2nd line. Without Malkin, we have a 1st line and two 3rd lines. Hornqvist isn't a 3rd liner.

Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
everyone else

Agree.

 

[Shady Machine]

Predictions:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Spaling-Sutter-Hornqvist
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Carcillo-Sill-Farnham

Ehrhoff-Letang
Scuderi-Martin
Despres-Harrington

I refuse to put Adams in the starting lineup. With Bort out and possibly Maatta, I figure Martin will be baby sitting Scuds.

 

[mikethelegacy]

Here's what I HOPE to see. Not gonna happen:

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Kapanen - Sutter - Dupuis
Spaling - Goc - Downie
Comeau - Sill - Carcillo (this 4th line is frighteningly evil...lol)

If Malkin is ready for game 1:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Kapanen - Malkin - Hornqvist
Spaling - Sutter - Downie
Comeau - Goc - Siller/Carcillo

Ideally when Bennett returns:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Kapanen - Malkin - Hornqvist (would be really nice to add someone besides Kappy...)
Bennett - Sutter - Downie (chemistry looks too good with Sutter/Bennett)
Comeau/Carcillo - Goc - Spaling

 

[cassius]

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Spaling - Sutter - Hornqvist
Comeau - Goc - Downie
Sill - Adams - Carcillo

Ehrhoff - Letang
Martin - Määttä*
Scuderi - Despres

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
Dupuis-Sutter-Downie
Spaling-Goc-Comeau
Farnham-Sill-Carcillo

Ehrhoff-Letang
Despres-Martin
Harrington-Scuderi

And then:

Kunitz-Crosby-Downie
Bennett-Malkin-Hornqvist
Dupuis-Sutter-Spaling
Comeau-Goc-Carcillo
Sill

Ehrhoff-Letang
Despres-Martin
Maatta-Bortuzzo

 

[IcedCapp]

excited to see Dupuis on the first line and Adams on the fourth.

Change we can believe in!

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, I think any lineup not involving Adams is probably a pipe dream.

Dupuis will absolutely be in the top six the majority of the year. If for no other reason than there being little else in the way of options.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Spaling - Sutter - Hornqvist
Comeau - Goc - Downie
Dunno - Adams* - So I don't care


* FU Rutherford. I hope you keep him all year and I hope he posts a -28 for the sake of irony. Oh, but I'm sure he'll have a few awesome PK sessions this season... definitely worth keeping. Yah. You bet.

 

[penguins2946*]

What I'm hoping for:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Kapanen-Malkin-Hornqvist
Spaling-Sutter-Downie
Farnham-Goc-Comeau

Ehrhoff-Letang
Despres-Martin
Maatta-Harrington

 

[Freeptop]

Kunitz, Crosby, Dupuis
Spaling, Sutter, Hornqvist
Comeau/Megna, Goc, Downie
Carcillo, Sill/Adams, Comeau/Megna


Martin, Letang
Maatta, Ehrhoff
Scuderi, Despres

Fleury/Greiss

I take it you missed that Megna got sent down to the AHL over the weekend?

 

[Til the End of Time]

cant believe we are starting yet another year with kcd.

it was already an embarrassment about three seasons ago. now i dont even know what to call it.

 

[maxpenguins6630]

cant believe we are starting yet another year with kcd.

it was already an embarrassment about three seasons ago. now i dont even know what to call it.

A tradition

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
Dupuis-Sutter-Downie
Sundqvist-Spaling-Comeau
Carcillo-Sill-Farnham

And the usual D pairs, Scuds bottom pairing.

Good call Ogre on Horns with Sid, makes a ton of sense. I also like Comeau with Spaling as a puck carrier.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

According to Johnston's timeline Malkin should be ready for Game 1.

I'd like to see Kapanen with Crosby if Malkin isn't ready to go, even when Malkin returns Id like to see Kapanen get some time with both Centers for AT LEAST a 9 game tryout. Farnham on the fourth line in place of Adams would be nice, although I'm not sure of his PK ability.

 

[Ogrezilla]

if an unexpected kid is to make the team for a trial, is Kapanen even the most deserving at this point? I'd give it to Sundqvist.

 

[Black Label]

if an unexpected kid is to make the team for a trial, is Kapanen even the most deserving at this point? I'd give it to Sundqvist.

It depends on the role that is open. Kapanen should make the team over Sundqvist if there is an open wing spot.

I assume Sundqvist going back to a good team in Sweden and Kapanen having to go back to a terrible team in Finland (even though they are in 5th right now) probably has some impact on who stays on the NHL roster.

 

[Al Smith]

A tradition

Yep, the proverbial Christmas fruitcake.

Wasn't there a thread/poll re Adams in the starting lineup on opening night? Looks more and more like a yes.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Kapanen-Malkin-Hornqvist
Spaling-Sutter-Downie
Carcillo-Goc-Comeau
Sill, Farnham
IR: Bennett

Ehrhoff-Martin
Scuderi-Letang
Despres-Harrington
Dumoulin
IR: Bortuzzo, Maatta, Pouliot

Crappy
Greiss

 

[mpp9]

Ehrhoff-Letang
Maatta-Martin
Harrington-Despres
Scuderi

Forward situation is way too up in the air to even speculate. Aside from Bennett being hurt and Malkin possibly not starting the season on time, we don't know if Carcillo is making the team or if Kapanen/Sundqvist are.

I really hope that's our starting 6 defense though.

 

[Skk82]

What I think it will actually end up being:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Spaling-Sutter-Hornqvist
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Carcillo-Sill-Adams

Malkin hasn't been on skates in weeks, how's he going to be at 100% ready for a season in 9 days? I wouldn't want him to be in there for game 1 at this rate.

I don't think Kapanen is NHL ready at this point. Too young, and doesn't have the frame for it at 18 years old. No biggie, they shouldn't rush him when he's got a ways to go. Sundqvist, I could take or leave but Carcillo/Sill know NHL-style hockey better. Grit and toughness, y'all.

Not really seeing how JR is taking the blame for Adams. Can’t waive him (35+ contract gives him a cap hit) and there’s no trade market. Not his fault there’s one more year, that's all on Shero for giving a bad 4th line player a 2 year deal.

It is Rutherford’s fault that now, not only is the bottom 6 below average but he downgraded off of Neal and didn’t/couldn’t replace Jokinen, so now the 2nd line magically sucks. KCD isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, but it’s something that Crosby can work with. Sadly it looks like Malkin’s back in the dark ages of rotating left wingers, each one worse than the one before.